Events related to this officer

For the attack positions of USS Swordfish during this patrol see the map below. As no deck log is available (for the moment) the attack positions were taken from the patrol report. Unfortunately the patrol report does not give daily noon positions.

9 Dec 1941 (position 14.30, 119.00)USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) claims to have sunk a steamer about 100 nautical miles west of Manila Bay, Philippines. There is no confirmation for this claim.

0057 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 1500 yards. Submerged to avoid gun attack which did not materialize. Lost depth control but had a fair glance at the target. Apparently one hit 1/4 lenght from the stern. The ship appeared to be settling evenly but the back might have been broken leaving her stern a little high. Returned to periscope depth after about 20 minutes, nothing in sight. Consider ship sunk.

11 Dec 1941 (position 14.14, 111.40)USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) attacked a steamer of about 3500 tons with two torpedoes in the South China Sea south of the Paracel Islands. No hits were obtained.

14 Dec 1941 (position 18.08, 109.18)While operating off the south coast of Hainan, USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN), attacked but missed a steamer with two torpedoes.
Later on the same day USS Swordfish torpedoed and damaged the Japanese army cargo ship Kashii Maru (8407 GRT, built 1936) in position 18°08'N, 109°22'E.

(All times are zone -8)
0427 hours - In position 18°05'N, 109°18'E sighted a steamer on the starboard bow on an easterly course. Made surface approach. Enemy course was course 097°, speed 12 knots.

0434 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 2000 yards. Submerged on firing to avoid possible counter attack with gunfire in fairly bright light. No explosions were heard due to own noises on diving. Results of the attack were not clear.

(All times are zone -8)
1143 hours - In position 18°06'N, 109°44'E sighted steamer bearing 235°, range 5.5 nautical miles. Enemy course 100°. Increased to full submerged speed for approach. Shortly afterwards sighted a total of six steamers in more or less a loose column. Finally got into minimum torpedo range from the last ship, 2800 yards. Fired three torpedoes. 35 seconds after firing the first torpedo a torpedo explosion was heard. One of the torpedoes had prematured, most likely on arming. A second detonation was heard after about 2 minutes. The ship was seen to be stopped and on fire amidships and listed 10° to starboard. Circled to the southward of the torpedoed ship at a range of about 4 nautical miles.

1547 hours - Sighted a destroyer. Went to 120 feet and cleared the area to the south. When the steamer was last seen she was down by the bow and it appeared she would sink soon.

19 Dec 1941 (position 18.05, 109.20)USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) attacked a Japanese destroyer with two torpedoes off the South coast of Hainan in position 18°05'N, 109°20'E. No hits were obtained. One of the torpedoes prematured and the destroyer was able to evade the other torpedo. Swordfish was then counter attacked with depth charges but sustained no damage.

(All times are zone -8)
1046 hours - In position 18°05'N, 109°20'E sighted a destroyer and a trawler. Proceeded to attack the destroyer. Fired two torpedoes from 1120 yards. A premature torpedo explosion was heard 22 seconds after firing. The destroyer was then able to evade the second torpedo. Went deep and changed course to get off the torpedo tracks. 2 minutes after firing depth charging started. A total of 8 being dropped. Swordfish managed to get out of the way for 15 minutes but was heavy aft and not willing to pump (for the noise) she settled on the bottom at 174 feet.

1500 hours - Having heard no pinging for 2 hours came off the bottom.

1607 hours - Returned to periscope depth, nothing in sight.

21 Dec 1941 (position 18.06, 109.20)USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) attacked a so far unidentified Japanese merchant/transport vessel south of Hainan in position 18°06'N, 109°20'E. One torpedo was fired but it missed.

22 Dec 1941 (position 18.07, 109.20)USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) attacked but missed a large Japanese merchant/transport ship with two torpedoes off the south coast of Hainan.

(All times are zone -8)
0637 hours - Sound reported propeller noises bearing 197°. Came to periscope depth and saw a destroyer at a range of 2000 yards.

0644 hours - In position 18°07'N, 109°20'E heard and sighted a steamer at a range of 1000 yards. This ship made several course changes in quick succession and finally averaged about 320°. Started attack.

0654 hours - Fired two torpedoes for a torpedo run of about 5000 yards. The ship was thought to be about 9200 GRT and was proceeding towards Sama Bay at a speed of 14 knots.

0703 hours - Heard three torpedo explosions. The target produced more smoke after the explosions but was most likely not hit but just speeding up.

0730 hours - Sighted the destroyer coming in our direction. Also several trawlers were patrolling the area as was another destroyer.

0930 hours - Depth charged while at periscope depth. Most likely an aircraft. Went to 135 feet. A total of 12 depth charges were then dropped quite close.

1043 hours - Sighted another cargo ship bearing 023° well up toward the beginning of Lembeh Strait. Decided to go in the lower part of this strait to attack these ships.

1238 hours - Fired two torpedoes at the 7000 tons target from 2100 yards. Heard two torpedo explosions. While swinging to attack the other target the first target was seen to list 20° to starboard.

1242 hours - Fired two torpedoes at the 10000 tons target from 3600 yards. Two torpedo explosions were heard but the results were not observed as Swordfish had gone to 180 feet on firing and was able to creep away. A single depth charge was dropped most likely by an aircraft but this caused no damage to Swordfish.

(All times are zone -8)
0445 hours - In position 05°22'N, 126°12'E sighted what was thought to be a steamer but turned out to be a Japanese destroyer bearing 220°, range 3 nautical miles. Changed course to close the range and attack.

0459 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 1700 yards. Submerged on firing. Targets course was 025°, speed 12 knots. No hits were obtained. Most likely the torpedoes missed astern and were not observed as no counter attack followed.

(All times are zone -8)
1908 hours - Just as Swordfish cleared the north tip of Lembeh Island several destroyers were sighted ahead and on the port bow at a range of about 2 nautical miles. Swordfish was somewhat silhoutted by the moon and detection was inevitable.

1910 hours - Submerged. The destroyers were seen heading towards. Went to 250 feet.

1912 hours - Depth charging started. The first charges exploded when Swordfish was between 100 and 150 feet. There appeared to be 2 destroyers participating in the hunt. During the next 20 minutes 6 depth charges were dropped. Several were very close causing some damage to Swordfish. After about half an hour one of the destroyers left. The other remained hunting in the area until 2215 hours.

2231 hours - Surfaced. Nothing in sight.

5 Feb 1942 (position 5.54, 126.12)USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) spotted a merchant vessel south of Davao Gulf, Philippines. Swordfish was unable to close to attack. Shortly afterwards an enemy convoy was sighted but Swordfish was sighted and depth charged by an escorting destroyer.

2248 hours - Unable to close so broke off the approach and headed west.

2317 hours - In position 05°54'N, 126°12'E sighted three large cargo ships in column bearing 340°, range 5 nautical miles. Enemy course was approximately 260°. Started to turn towards to attack when a destroyer was seen proceeding towards Swordfish at high speed. Range to the destroyer was 4 nautical miles.

2330 hours - Dived.

2340 hours - The destroyer dropped two depth charges soon after followed by two more.

2345 hours - One depth charge was dropped. The destroyer returned to the convoy after about 15 minutes.

0828 hours - In position 06°45'N, 126°54'E fired two torpedoes from 2800 yards. Obtained one hit. The ship, thought to be of 9500 GRT, had stopped and was settling by the stern.

0855 hours - The damaged ship got underway on a westerly course.

19 Feb 1942 (position 14.32, 120.08)USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) attacked what is thought to be a small tanker west of Manila Bay, Philippines with two torpedoes. No hits were obtained. Swordfish was then depth charged by an escort vessel but was not damaged.

0947 hours- In position 14°32'N, 120°08'E fired two torpedoes from 800 yards at the target which was thought to be a small tanker. Most likely one of the torpedoes prematured.

0950 hours - A counter attack started in which 8 depth charges were dropped in qrous of two in quick succession. Swordfish meanwhile had gone to 250 feet. The depth charges were close but not close enough to cause damage.

The depth charge attack was, according to Lt.Cdr. Smith carried out by a Japanese torpedo boat. This might well be correct as three Japanese torpedo boats were employed on the blockade of Manila Bay; Otori, Hayabusa and Kiji.

Early in the evening Swordfish took on board the President of the Philippines, his family and some officials. Swordfish departed through a minefield and arrived at San Jose, Panay, Philippine Islands on 22 February where the President and his party were transferred to a motor tender. Swordfish then returned to Manila Bay on the 24th and embarked 13 civilian evacuees, including Commissioner Francis Sayre and his staff, and 5 military personnel, 18 in total.

Upon completetion of these tasks and after a short patrol, USS Swordfish set course to return to Surabaya, Java, Netherlands East Indies. Due to the invasion of Java this was later changed to Fremantle, Australia.

1 Apr 1942USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) departed Fremantle, Australia for her 3rd war patrol. She was ordered to deliver 40 tons of provisions to the besieged island of Corregidor, however Corregidor fell before this mission could be carried through so on 10 April 1942 Swordfish was ordered to patrol in the vicinity of Ambon Island, Netherlands East Indies.

No daily position ar listed in the patrol report of USS Swordfish. The deck log is not available to us (at the moment). The positions displayed on this incomplete map below were taken from the patrol report.

1 May 1942USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) ended her 3rd war patrol when she returned to Fremantle. The patrol had been uneventful. At Fremantle she was refitted by USS Otus.

15 May 1942USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) departed Fremantle for her 4th war patrol. She was ordered to patrol in the South China Sea.

No daily position are listed in the patrol report of USS Swordfish. The deck log is not available to us (at the moment). The positions displayed on this incomplete map below were taken from the patrol report.

1157 hours - The target was now seen to be a 6500 tons merchant ship, zig-zagging. Started attack.

1311 hours - In position 02°21'S, 118°34'E fired two torpedoes from 3400 yards. No explosions were heard but the ship stopped. It was thought both torpedoes had missed ahead. The target got underway and decided not to fire torpedoes on a 180° track. As the ships gun was manned also decided not to surface for gun action.

0240 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 1600 yards. A torpedo explosion was heard 1m 25s after firing the first torpedo. Observed a narrow column of water one quarter lenght from the bow. Continued towards the target and at a range of 600 yards thought the target was a tanker of about 3500 tons. Thebow was slightly down but the target did not seem to be sinking. Turned away to bring the stern tubes to bear.

0253 hours - Fired one stern torpedo. A loud explosion was heard 56 seconds after firing. Smoke and spray were observed near the stern of the target. The target sank within two minutes.

(All times are zone -8)
0154 hours - In position 03°25'N, 105°27'E sighted a ship to the southward at a range of about 6 nautical miles.

0156 hours - Dived. The ship headed towards Swordfish. The target was soon seen to be a destroyer proceeding at high speed.

0209 hours - Fired four torpedoes from the stern tubes as the destroyer passed astern at a range of 400 yards. No explosions were heard.

0212 hours - Went to 200 feet as the destroyer was seen coming towards. The destroyer patrolled in the area for about 2 hours but she did not detect Swordfish.

6 Jun 1942 (position 5.00, 104.00)USS Swordfish (Lt.Cdr. C.C. Smith, USN) attacked a Japanese convoy off the east coast of Malaya in position 05°00'N, 104°00'E. Results are not clear but most likely no hits are obtained.

(All times are zone -8)
1250 hours - Sighted smoke bearing 135°. Started approach. After a while the contact was seen to be a convoy.

1457 hours - Sighted three ships in the convoy bearning 115°. Range was 8 nautical miles. Ememy course 005°. No escort was seen to be ahead of the convoy.

1530 hours - The ships were seen to be zig-zagging. Base course was bearing 340°.

1610 hours - Sighted three more ships bearing 045°. They were on a southerly course. Range was 9 nautical miles. A total of eight merchant ships were finally in sight.

1626 hours - In position 05°00'N, 104°00'E fired two torpedoes from 3300 yards at the closest merchant ship. One torpedo explosion was heard 3 minutes 15 seconds after firing the first torpedo.

1630 hours - A large destroyer was seen coming towards. Went deep.

1638 hours - Hit the bottom at 140 feet.

1642 hours - One depth charge was dropped.

1648 hours - Another depth charge was dropped, a little closer. Swordfish remained on the bottom until dark.

(All times are zone -8)
0318 hours - In position 10°08'N, 102°34'E sighted a ship bearing about 150°. Made surface approach. The target, thought to be of 6900 tons, was zig-zagging on a base course of 320° at a speed of 8 knots.

0357 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 1400 yards. No hits were obtained. The torpedoes appeared not to have been sighted by the target. Started another attack.

0434 hours - Fired two torpedoes from 1400 yards. A torpedo hit was observed just forward of the bridge of the target 70 seconds after firing the first torpedo. The ship stopped, settled and sank by the bow after 12 minutes.

1223 hours - Sighted masts, bearing now 269° T. Range was 8 nautical miles. The contact turned out to be a convoy made up of a transport vessel of about 5500 tons, a 4500 tons transport and a 4500 tons tanker. They were escorted by two submarine chasers.

1325 hours - Fired four torpedoes at the tanker from 2400 yards. On hit was obtained just forward of the stern. The tanker immediately settled by the stern and smoke was seen pouring from the boiler and engine rooms.

1329 hours - Went to 250 feet as one of the escorts came towards.

1330 hours - Heard the other three torpedoes explode at the end of their run.